MAIDUGURI, Nigeria — At least 50 people were killed and several women and children abducted after armed men attacked a village in Nigeria’s northwestern Zamfara state, a state lawmaker told Reuters on Friday.
Hamisu A. Faru, lawmaker representing Bukkuyum South, said the attackers raided Tungan Dutse village from around 5 p.m. on Thursday until about 3:30 a.m. on Friday, burning down buildings and shooting residents who tried to flee.
“They have been moving from one village to another … leaving at least 50 people dead,” Faru told Reuters by phone.
He said the number of abducted victims was yet to be determined, adding that traditional leaders and local government officials were still accounting for the missing.
A Zamfara state police spokesperson did not respond to calls seeking comment.
Abdullahi Sani, 41, a resident of Tungan Dutse, said three family members were killed in the attack.
“No one slept yesterday, we are all in pain,” he said.
A day earlier, residents contacted security forces and local authorities after spotting more than 150 motorcycles carrying armed men, but the warning was ignored, Sani added.
Insecurity remains a major challenge in Nigeria, with a surge in attacks blamed on armed groups commonly referred to as “bandits”, who have carried out killings, abductions for ransom and mass displacement across northern regions.
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